There were tears, to be sure, but also plenty of smiles on the faces of the several hundred attendees at Saturday’s (July 30) Celebration of Life for Laurie Martin, Xavier Prep’s late tennis coach who passed away on June 6 at the age of 59 when she fell at a family residence near Show Low.
The memorial
was held at Founders Hall on the Xavier campus, and was viewed by about 100
more people on an Internet Live stream.
If anyone
lived a full life, it certainly was Martin.
The theme of
the day was, “Live Like Laurie.’’ Tables were decorated with some of her family
photos and lavender wristbands with the theme printed on them. People could
sign a card conveying a message to the family that will be part of an upcoming
memorial book. Life-long photos of Martin flashed on screens around the room,
along with a few brief videos in accompaniment to some of her favorite songs
over the years.
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| RIP, Laurie Martin |
She spent her early years in southern California but established roots when she moved to Tempe, where she graduated from McClintock High School and was active in numerous school activities. She also went on to graduate from Arizona State.
Some of
Xavier’s administrators who worked closely with Martin were on hand for the
event, including XCP President Sr. Joan Fitzgerald, XCP Principal Sr. Joanie
Nuckols and Vice Principal for Activities and Athletic Director Sr. Lynn
Winsor.
The crowd
was told that Martin had a positive impact on everyone she met, and were asked
if they thought they could be considered her best friend.
Winsor came
forward and presented a “mini-biography’’ of Martin, who worked at Xavier for
17 years and produced five state championships and several state runner-up
finishes.
Martin also
drew praise for her example of family life with husband Stan (nearly four
decades) and daughters Amanda, Courtney and Natalie and son Tanner, along with
grandchildren.
“Her four
children were her biggest fans,’’ Winsor said.
Son Tanner
praised his mother, calling her his “Super Hero with Super Powers.’’
“She had a
tireless work ethic,’’ he added, also mentioning her family dinners on Sundays.
Daughter
Amanda, who with her sisters is a Xavier alumnus, played and coached tennis with
her mother for the Gators and worked in the school’s human resources office
before getting married, spoke of the birth of her first child when she was
living out of state.
“My mom
hopped on a plane – she did that for all of us – and came to where I lived when
I had an emergency C-section,’’ Amanda said. “She used some of that energy of
hers to decorate our house for Christmas.’’
Laurie
Martin started a “no-cut’’ program for freshman players that would win her
several awards for that maneuver. Every year, that program would draw at least
70 players.
“But she put
her players first as people,’’ Amanda said. “When she first told people about
the no-cut, they thought she was nuts. But look how that turned out. She wanted
the players to gain some lifelong friends.
“And she
lived her life with the utmost integrity.’’
Daughter
Courtney called Laurie “a phenomenal grandma. I hope to be half the grandma she
was to us. She had this commitment of living every day to its fullest.’’
Daughter
Natalie said that her mother would be proud.
“She died
knowing that we are all doing well,’’ Natalie said.
Natalie is
amazed by her mother’s physical conditioning, including some noteworthy dance
moves. She asked the attendees to stand and go through some of the moves, which
got everybody laughing.
Former
Xavier players Meg Yuan and Jordan Craft spoke of being coached by Martin, a
part of what they estimated was about 2,000 players she coached at Xavier over her 17
years, producing a 271-16 record.
Laurie
Martin also has been involved over the years at the national level through the
United States Tennis Association, winning awards, and worked closely with Tracy
Becker, a long-time friend and former teammate at McClintock. Becker listed
many of the highlights with USTA.
Personal remembrances
As The XCP Files author, I would like to
include a few remembrances of Laurie Martin.
Laurie
always was good-natured and carried herself in a professional manner when I would
come out for a match or write a feature story.
*In the
early days of her no-cut freshman program, and when The XCP Files started, we would chat and combine those subjects.
She touted the benefits of her program even then, and when she would go to
national meetings of tennis officials, she would mention The XCP Files and told them how the coverage helps the development
and maintenance of the school’s athletic programs.
Some of the
other coaches were somewhat envious, as in, “Gee, we kind of wish we had that
at our school.’’
I always
appreciated that she would go to bat for me like that.
*At the
Gators’ matches, you need not look too far to know where she was. Wearing her
trademark straw hat, and sitting in a big folding chair for road and state
matches, she would encourage her players with two simple words, “GO ZAVE-YURR.’’
*Another
thing with the voice. It wasn’t screaming loud, but it got her point across. I
would hear that same voice when she would give lessons on Wednesdays at courts
across the street from our home (we both lived in the same Tempe development at
the time). The voice was unmistakable as she instructed her adult players.
“She’s out
there,’’ my wife, Carol, would say.
*Laurie and
I shared an interesting fact: we both had a grandson with a creative,
noteworthy first name – Wyatt. And I always tried to ask her how her Wyatt was
doing.
*During this
spring’s state doubles tournament, Xavier’s Ryan Kershner and Dani Dyer
captured the championship. I went to Martin for a comment for my story, but she
graciously suggested that assistant coach Ford Oliver should provide his
thoughts, giving him a little “publicity.’’
That showed a lot of class.
So, in honor of Laurie, the next time
you go to an XCP match, say, “GO
ZAVE-YURR.’’
